The Psalmist David wrote, "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? How long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD." (Psalms 4:1-4)
It is interesting to note that on the back of U.S. paper currency we find the phrase "In God We Trust." The same phrase is also found on U.S. coins. But, when we watch the nightly news on TV, listen to a news broadcast on the radio, read any newspaper, or visit the internet, the news reported bears evidence to the fact that we live in a society that does NOT offer sacrifices of righteousness. Nor does it trust in God. In recent years, we have seen reports of horrible, unspeakable, and sinful crimes.
In September 1995, a family made a wrong turn down a street in Los Angles and was met with a barrage of gunfire that killed their 3-year-old little girl. Gang members riddled their car with bullets, just for the fun of it. (Los Angeles Times, September 18, 1995, p. lA)
In June 1997, a New Jersey teenager delivered a baby in a Delaware motel. Afterward, she and her boyfriend allegedly beat the baby to death, placed it in a plastic bag, and threw it in a garbage dumpster. (Bergen N.J. Record, November 17, 1997, p. AI)
In October 1997, a 16-year-old boy in Pearl, Mississippi murdered his mother, then went to school and shot nine students, killing two, including his former girlfriend. (The Washington Post, October 22, 1997, p. A3)
Several years ago, Kip Kinkel, a freckle-faced Springfield, Oregon youth murdered his father and mother, then came to Thurston High School cafeteria and, with a semi-automatic rifle, opened fire on his fellow students. He killed two and wounded twenty-two others. (Antioch Ledger Dispatch, May 22, 1998, p. AI)
Hardened criminals did not commit these crimes. Young people, produced by a society that does not trust in God, committed them.
Should we stand in awe and amazement, wondering why children kill other children, their parents, and teachers? John Hazelwood's 14-year-old son Brandon attends the Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Arkansas where two students (ages 13 and 11) opened fire and killed four girls and a teacher, and wounded numerous others. John hit the nail on the head when he said: "This is not the kid's problem, it's the way we're raising them today. They know only what you teach 'em."
Undoubtedly, the mayhem we have witnessed in recent years is a product of a society that DOES NOT trust the Lord. The apostle Paul answered the question WHY when he wrote, "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." (Romans 1:28-32) Our nation is now reaping the rotten fruit of its distrust in God and His divine word. In my estimation, we are now seeing only the leading edge of the storm. Its eye has yet to hit.
Can we expect our young people to value human life when our liberal, immoral, ungodly, hypocritical politicians enact before them laws that prohibit protecting innocent children in the womb from the murderers who puncture their little skulls and suck out their brains in abortion clinics? While in office, President Bill Clinton publicly lamented the Springfield, Oregon shootings; yet he supported a woman's freedom of choice, which allows her to slaughter her unborn child. This is blatant hypocrisy gone to seed! Bill and Hillary Clinton, and other liberal politicians pranced about the country expressing pious concern about our children's future in the classrooms and their right to an education that prepared them to cross the bridge into the 21st century. But, they showed utter disregard for innocent children in their mothers' wombs and for their right to live to see the 21st century. Sadly, many children in the womb never see the light of day before they meet their doom in a legalized abortion clinic. Mr. Clinton and all others like him who support abortion need to wake up and repent!
Does our nation trust in God when government authorities pass laws that prohibit public prayer in schools but allow school officials to distribute birth control pills and condoms to promote "safe sex" ideals to our children? Does our nation and its leaders trust in God when the court justices strike down laws that protect children from indecent material so the pornography peddlers' rights will not be violated? Does our nation trust in God when it looks upon homosexuality as a normal life style, and accuses those who oppose it of being bigots, homophobic, and hate mongers? NO!
Truly, our nation does not trust in God. Morally speaking, our nation disgusts God, when it should be trusting in Him. We live in a world that is saturated with all manner of wickedness. May we, as God's people, heed Paul's instruction to young Timothy, "For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe. These things command and teach. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." (1Timothy 4:10-12) Finally, let us remember to offer supplications, prayers, and intercessions for all men and for the leaders of all nations:" Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:1-4). They need them.